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Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Tropical Milkweed

Butterfly Characteristics


Butterflies and Migration



Monarch - King of the Butterflies


Journey North - Lots of slideshows about Monarchs and activities for students

Do You Know a Monarch When You See One? Journey North Slideshow-Identification of Monarchs

Monarch Watch Information about Monarchs and ordering tagging supplies


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Monarch Female on Tropical Milkweed




Stages in the Life of a Monarch Butterfly


Egg

Larva or Caterpillar

Pupa or Chrysalis

Adult





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Monarch Eggs Hatch in 3-6 Days.
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Monarch Egg on Tropical Milkweed
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It Takes 9-14 Days for Caterpillars To Go Through Five Instars
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Fifth Instar of Monarch Caterpillar
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Monarch caterpillar preparing to form chrysalis



Pictures of Monarch egg and five instars


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Transparent Monarch chrysalis with adult butterfly ready to emerge
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Newly formed Monarch chrysalis

Monarch Chrysalis Click on link to see picture of chrysalis.



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Monarch Emerging From Chrysalis


Maps of Monarch Migration

Monarchs in Their Winter Home in Mexico

Identifying a Monarch and Other Orange/Black Butterflies

Identifying Male and Female Monarchs


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Spicebush Swallowtail on Tropical Milkweed
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Spicebush Swallowtail on Buddleia, underwing view








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Painted Lady sipping nectar from a zinnia
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Painted Lady, underwing view






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Common Buckeye Click for pictures and host plants

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Gulf Fritillary Host Plant - Maypop or Passionvine



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Sulphur

Butterflies That Cause Damage in the Garden


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Long-tailed Skipper

Cabbage White Butterfly Click to see pictures of Clara (from Clara the Caterpillar) in egg form, caterpillar form, chrysalis form, and adult form.


Clara, the cabbage white butterfly, and the long-tailed skipper (above picture) are not welcome visitors to the garden. The cabbage white butterfly lays her eggs on the leaves of garden plants such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, and collards. These plants are host plants for cabbage white caterpillars. The long tail skipper lays her eggs on plants including beans and tomatoes.

To avoid use of pesticides that may kill all butterflies, gardeners should pick off the caterpillars that are eating garden plants.





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Giant Swallowtail Egg
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Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar ,5th Instar

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Giant Swallowtail Butterfly-Largest butterfly in North America

Butterfly Information Sites

Gardening with Wings Type in your zipcode and view the butterflies common to your area. This site helps to identify butterflies by shape and color as well.

The Butterfly Site PIctures of caterpillars and lists host plants

Butterflies and Their Larval Food PlantsMaypop or passionvine